Hope you'll follow along on this one......should be very interesting, not many tourists are permitted to this area of Russia, and acquiring the necessary visa has been hell very difficult, quite stressful, and very expensive!

I'll be leaving in couple of weeks so this week means picking out what to take, and starting on the packing again....see you back here when time permits!

Konichiwa Mary, I found you via your comment on City of Blackbirds blog and was hooked! My daughter in law is from Hokkaido, but I have never been there, and am ashamed to say know very few words. Lucky she knows Aussie-English much better! Your trip sounds fascinating and I will look forward to travelling along with you. Arigatou....that's Thank you :) Jane

Oh my goodness, Mary, you're off again! We visited Moscow and St Petersburg and points in between a few years ago. I've heard that in the last year it has become very difficult and expensive to obtain a visa. I loved that trip and would be very happy to see the far east of Russia or the south. I look forward to learning all about this trip.

If you are busy sorting through clothes and packing that means you do not have your eyes on the chickadee nest so that you can see the babies fledge!!!! :) :) Where are your priorities??!!!!!!! :)I am really looking forward to your next trip. It will be most interesting and thanks for taking us along with your travelogue and photos. They are the best!Farm Gal in VA

Amazing dear! I'm glad we will spend some time together before you go on the new adventure, and before I leave to the new place where I'll calling home.I know how hard it was to get those visas, so you should enjoy this trip as much as you can. Love, Vanessa

Oh how fantastic Mary! (I'm behind catching up too.)The Kamchatka has the most amazing wildlife, seen only from the comfort of my armchair of course. I'm certain you will have another amazing trip and I'm so looking forward to being able reading of your adventures :o)Lots of loveRose Hxx

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR is a fresh version of my former three year blog ACROSS THE POND which can still be accessed by clicking on the title above.I'm a transplanted Brit enjoying life in North Carolina.

Fifty five years of journeying back and forth across the wide Atlantic Ocean have kept me busy…….and made my life very interesting! Although I've now visited all seven continents, I continue to travel and look forward to sharing new places around the world.I love taking photos! All images are my own unless noted otherwise. Please do not use my photos without a request. I enjoy sharing and will usually say OK!

Malaysia 2012

Singapore 2012

Hawaii 2012

Hoi An 2011

Vietnam 2011

Chiang Mai 2011

Bangkok 2011

TASMANIA 2011

Australia Nov. 2011

Expedition Cruising 2011

M/V Orion

Sub-Antarctic 2011

King Penguins

My African Safari...May 2010

The Lion

Africa 2010

The Leopard

Africa 2010

Remembering Africa - 2010

Lassen National Park, California

Thanks so much for reading along this far……if you've enjoyed my tales and photos and would like to see more, click on the Older Posts button, or the photo thumbnails above to take you back…there are awesome countries and exciting adventures. If you love to decorate your personal space, dig and delve in your garden, and turn out tasty morsels from your kitchen..........you're at the right place!